Worker killed in freak keg mishap at Redhook was from Newington: Reported to be newlywed with baby on the way

Thursday

Apr 26, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By JIM HADDADINjhaddadin@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — The man killed in an industrial accident at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth this week has been identified as employee Benjamin Harris. Harris suffered critical injuries when a pressurized beer keg exploded at Redhook's facility at the Pease Tradeport. He was rushed to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. On Wednesday, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Harris was the man killed in the blast. According to his Facebook page, Harris was a Newington resident, and was a native of Beaver Falls, Pa. Portsmouth fire officials said Harris was cleaning residual liquid out of kegs by filling them with pressurized air when one of the containers ruptured at approximately 7 a.m. on Tuesday. The explosion took place in a storage and supply area of the Redhook facility, which is located beside a brewery and pub at Pease Tradeport. On Tuesday afternoon, Redhook Brewing's vice president of commercial operations, Andy Thomas, said the company is "doing everything in our power to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident."

"Our sympathy is with his family and everyone touched by the tragedy," Thomas said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Seacoastonline.com was reporting that Harris was a newlywed who had recently learned his wife was going to give birth to a child.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration agency's Concord office has opened an inspection at the Redhook Brewery in response to Harris' death. OSHA spokesperson Ted Fitzgerald indicated in an email on Wednesday OSHA's inspection will determine which workplace safety standards apply in this situation and whether Redhook complied with applicable standards.

Fitzgerald said it's too early to estimate when the investigation will wrap up, but it must be completed within 180 days

OSHA has never cited Redhook for a violation at its Portsmouth facility, according to Fitzgerald.

Portsmouth Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles said earlier this week the keg ruptured in a part of the Redhook facility used as a supply and storage area, located beside the attached brewery and pub.

The facility was closed on Tuesday, and remained closed throughout Wednesday.

A manager working inside Redhook's Cataqua Pub Wednesday referred all comment about the accident to a company spokesperson, adding only that Harris was part of the brewery "family."

As of Wednesday evening, more than 100 people had posted comments on Redhook's Facebook page in response to Tuesday's catastrophe.

Among them were more than a dozen breweries from across the country offering support to the Portsmouth employees.

Early Wednesday, Redhook's Facebook page was updated to read: "After yesterday's accident in Portsmouth, the Cataqua Pub remains closed today, and we will not be hosting brewery tours at the Portsmouth Brewery. When we're set to reopen, we'll let you know — in the meantime, thank you all for your thoughts and messages during this tough time."